=== For the Podcast that accompanies this talk, please click on [http://www.opal-online.org/wiki20060112.mp3 Part One] and [http://www.opal-online.org/wiki20060112b.mp3 Part Two] ===

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== What is a Wiki? ==

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A wiki allows a group of people to collaboratively develop a Web site with no knowledge of HTML or other markup languages. Anyone can add to or edit pages in a wiki -- it is completely egalitarian. Anyone can create new wiki pages simply by creating a new link with the name of the page. Pages are connected not hierarchically, but by hyperlinks between pages.

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According to the creator of Wiki, Ward Cunningham, wikis can be identified by the following characteristics:

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*"A wiki invites all users to edit any page or to create new pages within the wiki Web site, using only a plain-vanilla Web browser without any extra add-ons."

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*"Wiki promotes meaningful topic associations between different pages by making page link creation almost intuitively easy and by showing whether an intended target page exists or not."

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*"A wiki is not a carefully crafted site for casual visitors. Instead, it seeks to involve the visitor in an ongoing process of creation and collaboration that constantly changes the Web site landscape."

Check out the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wiki_farms List of wiki farms] in the Wikipedia.

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=== Important Things to Consider When Choosing Wiki Software ===

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*Programming language

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*Ease of installation

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*Ease of use

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*Cost

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*Syntax

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*Version control

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*Ability to hold discussions

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*RSS

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*Ability to change look

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*Security

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**Permissioning

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**Spam prevention

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=== Getting People On Board ===

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*Have a specific purpose

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*To structure or not to structure?

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*Be explicit.

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*Actively prevent spam.

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See my advice for building a successfull wiki at ''[http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/?p=254 ALA Wiki: What I learned and what I’m doing with it]'' (on my blog) and ''[http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=11262 So You Want to Build a Wiki?]'' (from WebJunction).

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=== If You Haven't Had Enough of Wikis Yet: Further Reading ===

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<br /> <br />

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*Boeninger, Chad. [http://libraryvoice.com/archives/2005/07/13/a-wiki-as-a-research-guide/ A Wiki as a Research Guide] ''Library Voice.'' July 13, 2005.

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''[[What is a Wiki|Continue to What is a Wiki?]]'' [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=What_is_a_Wiki http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wikiway.jpg]